I will be starting a 10 series DVD/study workbook lesson on Love, Sex and Lasting Relationships. The series is done by Chip Ingram.
http://livingontheedge.org/about-us/chip-ingram
I really felt led to do a study that related to this area, because as a teenager and young woman, I struggled immensely in this area.
This series will deal with what society, the media and Hollywood think about love, sex and relationships - and then it will more importantly turn it around and tell us what God and the Bible say about these issues.
This will be a great study for moms/teenage daughters and also young women (or women of ANY age) that still find themselves lacking in this area and want to know what God's Truth has to say about it.
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions about the study.
I believe it will begin next Wednesday night at 7pm at Bethel Christian Center in Durham. You do not have to be a member of Bethel Christian Center to attend this study.
Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
919-529-2486 home
radicallifeoutreach@yahoo.com
Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Dean's Account of the NC Pride Parade in Durham
The skies gave way to rain as I walked toward the Gay Pride Festival near Duke's East Campus. I was on somewhat familiar ground, as I was here last year to share the Gospel. I could hear music in the distance, and as I drew closer suddenly a man shouted out to me, "Dean!" I turned to see who it was. It was an ex-member of my church that had left his wife and children for a man. I did not speak. I just walked on by.
Now some of you may think that I was being rude, but I would like to point something out to you on why I took this stance. This man proclaims to be a Christian, yet he is living in a sinful homosexual relationship. God's word tells us in
1 Corinthians 5:11 - But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
We must obey God and not worry about what man thinks.
I continued walking down Ninth street, and a group of teenagers came up to me and asked for a picture.They were obviously there supporting the parade. They had on their rainbow colored clothes and had rainbow tattoos displayed on their faces. I was obviously there supporting Jesus, in my robe and a cross on my shoulder. I told them about Jesus, but they were more interested in the parade that was about to start. I would find out later that they were actually there to march in the parade.
As I continued down Ninth Street I got the usual stares and laughs, and snickers and jaw dropping responses that I usually get.
I turned around and headed towards Duke's East Campus area. People would grin as I walked down the sidewalk. I could tell some people thought I was crazy.....or just plain stupid. (A girl actually told me that she thought it was stupid to carry a cross around with a wheel on it.)
Good thing I'm not working for her or I would have been really discouraged. But when you know God has sent you, nothing falters your faith. As a believer, if we're running from persecution, then we are running from the very thing that will open up the blessings of God for not only us, but those who think what you're doing is foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
I walked to where the parade floats were all lined up. I had decided to get amongst the people this year and try and engage in conversation with them. I didn't want to make myself unapproachable. Many came up to me asking for pictures of course, but also curious about what I was doing. I explained God's Word to many of them without compromise. I shared how I was there to share the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how He came and redeemed us. I shared how homosexuality was a sin, but that so was lying, stealing, fornication, murder, and etc.. Jesus died for those sins, and if we believe in His sacrifice for sin, we will be a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I decided to stand by the brick wall that was near the road. I stood there looking at the people and felt compassion for them. I pondered on what road had brought them to this place in their life. Then I noticed a man with a camera looking at me. He asked if it was okay if he took my picture. I nodded my head yes, and he began snapping pictures. He then approached me and asked me what I was doing. I begin to tell him about Jesus, and what my mission was, and he listened intently as I talked. He asked me if I was uncomfortable being out there at the parade. I told him, "No, I don't. Jesus would do the same. He hung out with prostitutes, and other sinners and expressed His love for them by showing them the truth." I thought that was the last time I would see or talk to this man, but days later after the Parade he contacted me by e-mail. This is what he said and I quote...
Hi Dean,
I have been thinking about our conversation last Saturday at Duke East Campus...
I got two or three shots of you, and I stole your insights from your website to post a few lines to support this one picture here... (bilingual).
Off the record - and although I am not a man of faith - I think I might have met Jesus twice in this country - especially during tough times for me.
And there might not be a third time, I am afraid.
Best regards,
**Name Withheld**
The parade started and the crowd begin cheering as each float would roll by. Wave after wave of human indecency would parade itself...from men dressed as women, blasphemous signs about God, people yelling obscenities...then to my shock, women walking around totally topless bearing their breasts with little children looking on. Even more shocking is the fact that the authorities saw this and continued to let them walk around nude.
The Bible speaks of a generation of people like this in the last days.
2 Timothy 3 - But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
This is what has become of this society and nation. Children are drowning in the ocean of this society's self indulgences, and men and women are blinded to it. But these little ones have their eyes wide open, they are taking it all in and it is molding them into what they will become.
Mark 9:42 - “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Repentance is the only answer. Turn from sin by excepting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, Jesus said in
John 14:6 - “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
God has made a way for humanity.
JESUS!
He is the savior of the world and for all that will believe in Him they will not be put to shame.
Soon the parade was over and once again I picked up my cross and walked toward Ninth Street. The paraders, still marching, began to chant a phrase they had memorized to express how they felt about all those that opposed them and their beliefs. It was the same one they chanted last year. As I continued to walk several people kicked my cross as I passed by. As I drew closer to Ninth Street a man approached me and said mockingly, "I would have thought Jesus' second coming would have been more exciting!" He became very angry when I didn't acknowledge him or respond to him at all. Many people want a fight, but I was not there to fight. I was already victorious. When you have already won the battle, no fight is necessary.
We have to realize our battle is not with human beings, but with the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The devil knows that if can get us in the flesh, so that we get angry at the person, He has won a great battle. If you get in the flesh you will never be effective in reaching the lost. Besides, if you are a living a godly life in Christ, you signed up for this.
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
I was approaching the last store front on Ninth Street when a photographer from The News and Observer begin snapping pictures of me. He took about three pictures of me, then he asked me what my purpose was. I told him that I was there to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how He died, so that we could be free from all sins. I hear homosexuals say they were born that way, and I'm not totally opposed to that. The Bible says that we were all born into sin. But we have to be born again...
John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Some of you may wonder why I allow people to take pictures of me. I do that so I can tell them about Jesus. If I tell them "no" to a picture, sometimes they will not even let me talk to them. Plus, when they show someone else the pictures I believe it will invoke conversation about their meeting with me. So then they become a preacher too, because in turn they may tell them the message I gave them about the Gospel.
To God be all the glory for what was accomplished at the parade. I believe the Word of God is powerful and will not come back void. It will accomplish His will.
Please pray for our ministry that God will continue to give us boldness and compassion and a fervent desire to reach the lost!
Living Radical For Jesus
Dean
Now some of you may think that I was being rude, but I would like to point something out to you on why I took this stance. This man proclaims to be a Christian, yet he is living in a sinful homosexual relationship. God's word tells us in
1 Corinthians 5:11 - But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
We must obey God and not worry about what man thinks.
I continued walking down Ninth street, and a group of teenagers came up to me and asked for a picture.They were obviously there supporting the parade. They had on their rainbow colored clothes and had rainbow tattoos displayed on their faces. I was obviously there supporting Jesus, in my robe and a cross on my shoulder. I told them about Jesus, but they were more interested in the parade that was about to start. I would find out later that they were actually there to march in the parade.
As I continued down Ninth Street I got the usual stares and laughs, and snickers and jaw dropping responses that I usually get.
I turned around and headed towards Duke's East Campus area. People would grin as I walked down the sidewalk. I could tell some people thought I was crazy.....or just plain stupid. (A girl actually told me that she thought it was stupid to carry a cross around with a wheel on it.)
Good thing I'm not working for her or I would have been really discouraged. But when you know God has sent you, nothing falters your faith. As a believer, if we're running from persecution, then we are running from the very thing that will open up the blessings of God for not only us, but those who think what you're doing is foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
I walked to where the parade floats were all lined up. I had decided to get amongst the people this year and try and engage in conversation with them. I didn't want to make myself unapproachable. Many came up to me asking for pictures of course, but also curious about what I was doing. I explained God's Word to many of them without compromise. I shared how I was there to share the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how He came and redeemed us. I shared how homosexuality was a sin, but that so was lying, stealing, fornication, murder, and etc.. Jesus died for those sins, and if we believe in His sacrifice for sin, we will be a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I decided to stand by the brick wall that was near the road. I stood there looking at the people and felt compassion for them. I pondered on what road had brought them to this place in their life. Then I noticed a man with a camera looking at me. He asked if it was okay if he took my picture. I nodded my head yes, and he began snapping pictures. He then approached me and asked me what I was doing. I begin to tell him about Jesus, and what my mission was, and he listened intently as I talked. He asked me if I was uncomfortable being out there at the parade. I told him, "No, I don't. Jesus would do the same. He hung out with prostitutes, and other sinners and expressed His love for them by showing them the truth." I thought that was the last time I would see or talk to this man, but days later after the Parade he contacted me by e-mail. This is what he said and I quote...
Hi Dean,
I have been thinking about our conversation last Saturday at Duke East Campus...
I got two or three shots of you, and I stole your insights from your website to post a few lines to support this one picture here... (bilingual).
Off the record - and although I am not a man of faith - I think I might have met Jesus twice in this country - especially during tough times for me.
And there might not be a third time, I am afraid.
Best regards,
**Name Withheld**
The parade started and the crowd begin cheering as each float would roll by. Wave after wave of human indecency would parade itself...from men dressed as women, blasphemous signs about God, people yelling obscenities...then to my shock, women walking around totally topless bearing their breasts with little children looking on. Even more shocking is the fact that the authorities saw this and continued to let them walk around nude.
The Bible speaks of a generation of people like this in the last days.
2 Timothy 3 - But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
This is what has become of this society and nation. Children are drowning in the ocean of this society's self indulgences, and men and women are blinded to it. But these little ones have their eyes wide open, they are taking it all in and it is molding them into what they will become.
Mark 9:42 - “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Repentance is the only answer. Turn from sin by excepting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, Jesus said in
John 14:6 - “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
God has made a way for humanity.
JESUS!
He is the savior of the world and for all that will believe in Him they will not be put to shame.
Soon the parade was over and once again I picked up my cross and walked toward Ninth Street. The paraders, still marching, began to chant a phrase they had memorized to express how they felt about all those that opposed them and their beliefs. It was the same one they chanted last year. As I continued to walk several people kicked my cross as I passed by. As I drew closer to Ninth Street a man approached me and said mockingly, "I would have thought Jesus' second coming would have been more exciting!" He became very angry when I didn't acknowledge him or respond to him at all. Many people want a fight, but I was not there to fight. I was already victorious. When you have already won the battle, no fight is necessary.
We have to realize our battle is not with human beings, but with the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The devil knows that if can get us in the flesh, so that we get angry at the person, He has won a great battle. If you get in the flesh you will never be effective in reaching the lost. Besides, if you are a living a godly life in Christ, you signed up for this.
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
I was approaching the last store front on Ninth Street when a photographer from The News and Observer begin snapping pictures of me. He took about three pictures of me, then he asked me what my purpose was. I told him that I was there to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how He died, so that we could be free from all sins. I hear homosexuals say they were born that way, and I'm not totally opposed to that. The Bible says that we were all born into sin. But we have to be born again...
John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Some of you may wonder why I allow people to take pictures of me. I do that so I can tell them about Jesus. If I tell them "no" to a picture, sometimes they will not even let me talk to them. Plus, when they show someone else the pictures I believe it will invoke conversation about their meeting with me. So then they become a preacher too, because in turn they may tell them the message I gave them about the Gospel.
To God be all the glory for what was accomplished at the parade. I believe the Word of God is powerful and will not come back void. It will accomplish His will.
Please pray for our ministry that God will continue to give us boldness and compassion and a fervent desire to reach the lost!
Living Radical For Jesus
Dean
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
This past weekend we were blessed by Bull City Outreach Ministries with shoe donations. Thank you so much to Terry and Angie for your donation to our ministry! Brothers and sisters in Christ working together - out of love for the people! AMEN :)
These were brand new shoes that we knew we could give out to needy kids/families in our area.
We were able to venture out last night to a familiar neighborhood in Butner and visit with some boys that we have grown to love over the last couple of years.
They were very excited to get the shoes, and we were excited to be able to remind them again that we love them because Jesus loves them.
There are 4 boys in the pictures. We were also able to give the mom a pair and Dean will be heading back over there tonight to give the dad a pair.
They did manage to make me squeal like a little baby when they brought out the snapping turtles....but hey, that's what a house full of boys gets you - right?
Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
These were brand new shoes that we knew we could give out to needy kids/families in our area.
We were able to venture out last night to a familiar neighborhood in Butner and visit with some boys that we have grown to love over the last couple of years.
They were very excited to get the shoes, and we were excited to be able to remind them again that we love them because Jesus loves them.
There are 4 boys in the pictures. We were also able to give the mom a pair and Dean will be heading back over there tonight to give the dad a pair.
They did manage to make me squeal like a little baby when they brought out the snapping turtles....but hey, that's what a house full of boys gets you - right?
Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Crosswalking in Raleigh
I felt God leading us to Raleigh to do a cross walk. My mom (Marcia Rowland) and our sister in Christ, Deborah Reliford, joined me on the walk. We began our walk on Capital Blvd. We started walking from the McDonalds and made our way to a shopping center when a lady pulled up in a van beside us. She just looked at me without saying a word and it appeared as though she had seen a ghost. As we began to talk I soon discovered that she used to be close to God, and that she had strayed from Him. She said that she had a lot of guilt from her past mistakes.
I took as an opportunity to share my own story about how God delivered me from my past guilt. Tears begin to pour from her eyes. She said that she didn't know how to get back to God and she has tried but keeps failing. I explained to her that we can't do anything within ourselves, but we have to rely on Him and He will give us those desires if we ask. Sometimes just admitting to God our weakness is what He wants us to do. The Bible says in James 4:6 - But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
God gives grace (His strength and favor) to those who humble themselves. All pride and human abilities leave when we realize that God works through our weaknesses.
Pride says, "I can do it myself" while being humble cries, "I need your help God!"
I asked mom and Deborah if they would pray for her. As they prayed, a great joy came over this lady and she began to sing from her heart. She had a beautiful singing voice, and I noticed her countenance started to change. God really blessed this lady, as well as us.
After we prayed three teenagers came up to me and asked what I was doing. I told them I was preaching the gospel, and then I asked them how their relationship was with Jesus. They said "Okay" but they knew they were not doing everything they should be doing. So I told them that we have to come to God by humbling ourselves, and I squatted down and asked them to squat down with me. I told them that we have to humble ourselves by bringing ourselves lower and letting go of our pride and repent of our sins and God would do a work in our lives. They seemed to devour every word. I could tell that they had never heard anything like that before.
We continued our walk down Capital when all of the sudden the lady that we first met in the van comes running after us. She ends up walking with us the rest of the day, singing and praising God along the way. We were not expecting that at all. Praise God for His many blessings!!
I talked to many people about Jesus this day. It always amazes me how people respond to this visual.
I want all our readers to know that I ONLY do this for God's glory. I even have had many opportunities to receive money from people, but I refuse to use this as a money thing! I want to give the Gospel to people free of charge. The scripture says in Matthew 10: 7-8 - And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Now I know there is nothing wrong with receiving money from people, because the scripture goes on to say a worker is worthy of his food...
I believe that not taking peoples money in a society driven by money and greed will only help to further the validity of the gospel.
I went back a few days later to Capital Blvd. Two teenagers chased me down for about a quarter of a mile to talk to me and get a picture. Also a great couple pulled up and asked me what I was doing this for. I talked to them for probably thirty or forty minutes about my testimony and what God was doing with the crosswalk. Then the man offered a prayer for me. He asked that God would strengthen me and continue to use me in this way for His glory.
I also talked to four people at the Food Lion. I could tell by the way they talked that they were Christians. I challenged them to go even deeper in their walk with God, and to listen to His Spirit to use them to step out and do something "out of the box" for Him.
Yet another day in Raleigh we went downtown. As I walked through town you could sense that people were caught up in life. I believe that if Jesus himself were to return and walk down some of our streets in America He would just be overlooked.
We have heard the name Jesus so long in our country that it has become just another name to us. That name has lost its power in our lives because of our love for money, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The Bible even says in Matthew 24:36-44 - “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
It will come as a thief to those who aren't interested or those who are caught up with this life. If you are a Christian and you spend most of your time on worldly affairs, then you are missing the mark. It's not just the real bad sins that we think of either that hold us back. It said they were eating, drinking, and getting married. These are just everyday things that we do. These things are not bad in themselves but when they become our God then we have missed the boat.
I talked to two young girls who said that they were saved. As I begin to talk, one of them walked away, but the other one stayed. I asked her if she was sharing her faith with anyone, and talking to God in prayer, and she said "Not like I should." I asked her what her husband would think if she got up in the morning, got dressed, drank her coffee, fixed her hair, and then walked out the door without speaking to him. She said her husband would probably think she was mad at him. I told her this is what we do to God everyday, but we don't think about it because He is not the most important thing in our lives.
Jesus gave His life for us; He left His throne to become a servant for us. The least we can do is acknowledge Him and thank Him, and share what He has done for us. She agreed, and I gave her a practical way she could start honoring God. I told her that first thing in the morning, before she does anything, to get on her knees and thank God for the day and worship Him. Her eyes got real big when I said that. I think it sounded different to her....almost alien!
Praise God for all that He has done and continues to do with Radical Life Outreach Ministries! Thanks to all of you that have supported us and still support us with your prayers and gifts.
To God be all the glory and to Jesus Christ our savior,
To be continued……
Dean
*****************************************************
I'd like to take a moment to also recognize and thank Freedom Baptist Church of Durham. We were asked to come and speak to them about our ministry on Sunday the 9th. At first I didn't know how we'd take up an entire hour of time, but as Pastor Ronnie Bell told Dean at one point "She's on a roll now".....wow :) It came easy as we just talked about the ways that God is working in our lives and our community.
We were then able to team up and help out a little with their Fall Festival the following Saturday. Ronnie Bell is the new pastor at this church and really just wants to see the Word and Spirit of God grow exponentially in the surrounding community.
Thanks again Ronnie and LuAnn! We can't wait to work together with you again.
I also want to take this time to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who has sent me cards, notes, messages, scriptures, or prayers in the passing of my cousin Melanie. It has been a rough two weeks for me at times, but God is good - ALWAYS - and He has brought me through the worst part. There were moments when I knew I was being spiritually attacked and tormented, but I am just so thankful for my loving, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled husband who came along-side and helped me get back on track at just the right moment.
Until next time....Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Am I Lukewarm and Loving It?
This is a hard message but it's truth.
I hope you will take the time to listen to it like we did.
Yes it's almost 40 minutes long - but it's well worth it.
You cannot leave the same.....well, you can.....but you can't leave without at least having the knowledge.
Enjoy!
Melissa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhqrtMqrv8
I hope you will take the time to listen to it like we did.
Yes it's almost 40 minutes long - but it's well worth it.
You cannot leave the same.....well, you can.....but you can't leave without at least having the knowledge.
Enjoy!
Melissa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhqrtMqrv8
Monday, September 3, 2012
Other Ministry Endeavors
We've been out and about so much lately that I haven't been posting on the other great things God is doing in our lives.
Last Saturday we were able to join with Open Arms Fellowship (Creedmoor) to do a FREE clothing and school supply outreach at Twin Circles Mobile Home Park in Butner. This is the same mobile home park that we have been out to many, many times delivering food, hanging out with the kids, having dinner with families, ministering the Word and doing the mobile VBS. We love the folks in this community and love to spend time with them helping out in any way possible. Some pictures from that outreach are below.
We have also been able to attend and help out with Friday Night Street Church in Durham at MacDougald Terrace Housing. These people are the passion of Pastor Terry Shuff of Bull City Outreach Ministries. He goes out to these neighborhoods daily....relentlessly....giving food and clothes and many other things, but more importantly he brings them the Word! This Friday night street church was a wonderful experience, and for the past 2 Friday nights Dean has been able to preach to the residents that attend. We get the Jesus music going, bring out the folding chairs, and just begin to have church right there where the people live....in the middle of the apartment complex. This past Friday night Terry and Angie were out of town - but the show went on! Dean and I, Jeff and Kem Shuler, William and Deborah Reliford, Michael Perra, Chris Hull, Kelly Gordon, and a handful of other people that I can't remember names for, came out had church. It was a great experience, as always, and we look forward to next Friday night and every Friday night, as long as the Lord keeps this going.
Yes it's dark outside....yes it's late....yes it's a rough neighborhood....yes there is gang activity, drug deals, senseless murders, addictions of all sorts, children running around without parents who care....but we care and love these people because Jesus loves them. Let us not forget that He died for us while we were still sinners....His love for us was made perfect in His sacrifice unto death. But that is not all folks!!! He gives us NEW LIFE....a CHANGED LIFE! If we will agree to give Him our whole life....our whole heart....our entire beings....He will mold us and change us and rejuvinate us!
Hallelujah!! He did it for me, He did it for Dean, He did it for Pastor Terry, and many others. If He can do it for us, He can do it for you and He can do it for the people of MacDougald!
We have also had lots of calls lately for people needing food. So we have done many deliveries. We have a shelf in our home dedicated to non-perishables and also have a deep freezer for meats and baked goods. If you would ever like to donate to this, we would be very appreciative! Just give us a call or shoot us an email and we will be happy to meet up with you!
As always, thank you for helping us serve people in our community all in the name of Jesus.
Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
Last Saturday we were able to join with Open Arms Fellowship (Creedmoor) to do a FREE clothing and school supply outreach at Twin Circles Mobile Home Park in Butner. This is the same mobile home park that we have been out to many, many times delivering food, hanging out with the kids, having dinner with families, ministering the Word and doing the mobile VBS. We love the folks in this community and love to spend time with them helping out in any way possible. Some pictures from that outreach are below.
We have also been able to attend and help out with Friday Night Street Church in Durham at MacDougald Terrace Housing. These people are the passion of Pastor Terry Shuff of Bull City Outreach Ministries. He goes out to these neighborhoods daily....relentlessly....giving food and clothes and many other things, but more importantly he brings them the Word! This Friday night street church was a wonderful experience, and for the past 2 Friday nights Dean has been able to preach to the residents that attend. We get the Jesus music going, bring out the folding chairs, and just begin to have church right there where the people live....in the middle of the apartment complex. This past Friday night Terry and Angie were out of town - but the show went on! Dean and I, Jeff and Kem Shuler, William and Deborah Reliford, Michael Perra, Chris Hull, Kelly Gordon, and a handful of other people that I can't remember names for, came out had church. It was a great experience, as always, and we look forward to next Friday night and every Friday night, as long as the Lord keeps this going.
Yes it's dark outside....yes it's late....yes it's a rough neighborhood....yes there is gang activity, drug deals, senseless murders, addictions of all sorts, children running around without parents who care....but we care and love these people because Jesus loves them. Let us not forget that He died for us while we were still sinners....His love for us was made perfect in His sacrifice unto death. But that is not all folks!!! He gives us NEW LIFE....a CHANGED LIFE! If we will agree to give Him our whole life....our whole heart....our entire beings....He will mold us and change us and rejuvinate us!
Hallelujah!! He did it for me, He did it for Dean, He did it for Pastor Terry, and many others. If He can do it for us, He can do it for you and He can do it for the people of MacDougald!
We have also had lots of calls lately for people needing food. So we have done many deliveries. We have a shelf in our home dedicated to non-perishables and also have a deep freezer for meats and baked goods. If you would ever like to donate to this, we would be very appreciative! Just give us a call or shoot us an email and we will be happy to meet up with you!
As always, thank you for helping us serve people in our community all in the name of Jesus.
Loving Radically Through Christ,
Melissa
Sunday, September 2, 2012
More Crosswalking Stories!!
We have sooooo many crosswalking stories to tell that we just can't get them all typed up and posted! So sorry!!! We are getting quite a few requests for an updated post of Dean's most recent endeavors. I'll start by saying that it is virtually impossible to recount EVERY story, however we're going to detail a few of them below and include some pictures. Please feel free to share this blog post with your friends and family. It's very encouraging to see that so many people are interested in hearing about our gospel sharing ventures!
Last Sunday Dean went crosswalking through the Butner-Creedmoor area. This past Friday he took the day off work and went back to Downtown Durham, South Square and Southpoint areas and also Chapel Hill. Then on Saturday he went to Oxford and Henderson.
This is the most effective and powerful ministry tool yet because people are so interested in what he's doing and will stop and listen to what he has to say. It's one thing for us to bring free stuff to people....of course they hang around and chat. But it's a whole different story for people to approach you and become genuinely engaged in conversation about the gospel. It's just amazing!
A man approached me in the Roses parking lot in Oxford. He asked if he could get a picture and I asked him how his relationship with Jesus was. He pulled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal a tattoo of Jesus' face on his upper arm. I said "Yeah but is he in your heart?" And he said that he was....that he had been there a long time.
Now I don't know the true condition of this man's relationship with the Lord, but I do know that this brings up a great point for professing Christians today. Lots of us have Him on our shirts....around our necks....even permanently tattooed on our body somewhere. But none of that is what makes us a Christian. If we're going to wear Him as body art, or proudly display His name on our bumper stickers, then we need to make sure we have embraced His claim on our life.
Jesus Himself says in Luke 6:46 - “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
And in speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 (people claiming to be the representatives of God), Jesus says - "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
THIS is why we need to rely on His Spirit daily....because in ourselves we don't have the power. His sacrifice and His righteousness is what provides the means and access.
In Butner as I walked down a side street, about 8 or 9 people came out to the road to greet me and starting shouting in amazement "Jesus is walking down the street....It's Jesus!" Now let me make something abundantly clear here to everyone that may be reading......I do NOT think, nor do I profess to people, that I'm the real Jesus. I don't want people to think I've lost my bearings. I'm just obeying what God has told me to do. I am just a common man saved by an uncommon, mighty, amazing, merciful God!
At one point while in Butner I came to a park and sat down under a large shelter because it was very hot out. I sat there with my eyes closed and prayed. As I was praying, I could hear footsteps coming up behind me. A man came up and said "That's a mighty big message you are carrying there. What are you doing it for?" I told him that I'm a street minister and that I use this to get people's attention so that I can preach the gospel to them. Then he asked me if I needed any help. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said that if I needed him to drive me anywhere he would load up the cross on his truck and take me wherever I needed to go. I declined the offer but thanked him for his kindness. He then went back to his truck and got some bottled water for me. Afterwards I got back to business....not too far away at a laundromat parking lot. I could hear people giggling behind me, so I turned around to find four teenagers looking and talking amongst themselves. They asked if they could get a picture, and of course you know I never pass up a picture because that opens the door for God's Word to be preached. Cars then began to pull up left and right until I had a crowd of fourteen or fifteen around me. What do you think happened next? I talked to them about Jesus! What greater message is there but Jesus and what He's done for us. Afterwards many thanked me and hugged me, and some have even friend requested me on Facebook so they can follow the ministry.
Let me give you another statement from the mouth of Jesus....out of the book of Luke. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
We hear this and know this, but isn't it amazing when it actually happens for someone? I decided to go near I-85 exit where it is the busiest. I walked along the main road and into the Butner Food Lion shopping center parking lot. I walked by every shop with the cross in hand. As I got to the end of the strip mall a car pulls up beside me. The girl asked if I could pray for her. I said yes and told her to park and come over. The young lady comes up with her mother and her daughter and begins to tell me her story. She said that she didn't go to church, but today she had decided to go. The pastor had been talking about Jesus and she prayed that if Jesus was real, would He please reveal Himself to her.
This is a familiar position to take, because sometimes it's hard for us to believe in something that we can't see or feel. We ask God to reveal Himself....to just prove Himself to us. Imagine this girl's surprise when the very one she wanted to be revealed to her was standing right in front of her face in a tangible form just hours after she had asked.
I told her that today was her day and that God was going to transform her life. Right there in the parking lot this young girl and her mother made a confession of faith and vowed to start living their lives for the Lord. I explained some things in the gospel and then we prayed. I gave them my card and told them to stay in touch with so me that I could continue to help them and support them on their journey.
I always try and get people's contact information or give mine to them. I want to be able to follow up with them, help them out, disciple and counsel them in any way that's needed. I have made lots of new Facebook friends in the process, and I look forward to the many more I will make in the future.
Below are some additional photos that have been taken during the crosswalks.
Last Sunday Dean went crosswalking through the Butner-Creedmoor area. This past Friday he took the day off work and went back to Downtown Durham, South Square and Southpoint areas and also Chapel Hill. Then on Saturday he went to Oxford and Henderson.
This is the most effective and powerful ministry tool yet because people are so interested in what he's doing and will stop and listen to what he has to say. It's one thing for us to bring free stuff to people....of course they hang around and chat. But it's a whole different story for people to approach you and become genuinely engaged in conversation about the gospel. It's just amazing!
These were the first people we came into contact with in Henderson.
I met Pastor Lashun Mitchell and his children (pictured above) in Oxford. He said he had been hearing about me at work for about 2 weeks and had said that he would like to meet me. And then we ran into each other on Saturday. He said that he would like to go crosswalking with me sometime soon. He is currently pastoring a church in Chapel Hill but has just recently moved to Oxford and is looking for a building here. Hopefully when he finds a local place I will go and speak to the congregation.
This is the manager and a couple of wait staff at Golden Corral in Henderson. Before we left I got to pray with our waitress.
Across the street from the Golden Corral in Henderson is a car dealership. A group of about 10 people gathered around to see what I was doing. Of course I explained it to them, and when they wanted pictures, I took the opportunity to share the gospel with all of them. One of the people in the group was a car salesman. After seeing me and hearing about what I was doing, he tried to pull out his wallet and offer money to me. However I explained to him that I would not take the money because my job was not to come out and collect money from people....it's to come out and share the Good News of Jesus Christ!
I was also at a Food Lion parking lot in Henderson and I was sitting on a bench and sharing with 3 or 4 of the employees when a few other people came up. I was able to share my personal testimony and also the vision that God had given me about doing this type of ministry.
Everywhere I go people are in shock and awe....they're amazed to see someone doing something like this. Some people are a little hesitant at first, and that's understandable. But once they realize that I'm out only to share the gospel they are usually joyful and excited and encouraging.
I also get a lot of people that follow me.....whether it be following me on their moped, or walking behind me for a while, or seeing me pass them by and following me in their car until I stop and they get a chance to ask what I'm up to. One particular person was a man on a moped who followed me for a bit and took some pictures. When I got the chance to talk to him, it was encouraging because he was currently heading up a Celebrate Recovery program in his area....a Christ-based addictions recovery program, kind of like AA, but all based on freedom from hurts, habits and hangups through Jesus Christ.
A man approached me in the Roses parking lot in Oxford. He asked if he could get a picture and I asked him how his relationship with Jesus was. He pulled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal a tattoo of Jesus' face on his upper arm. I said "Yeah but is he in your heart?" And he said that he was....that he had been there a long time.
Now I don't know the true condition of this man's relationship with the Lord, but I do know that this brings up a great point for professing Christians today. Lots of us have Him on our shirts....around our necks....even permanently tattooed on our body somewhere. But none of that is what makes us a Christian. If we're going to wear Him as body art, or proudly display His name on our bumper stickers, then we need to make sure we have embraced His claim on our life.
Jesus Himself says in Luke 6:46 - “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
And in speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 (people claiming to be the representatives of God), Jesus says - "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
THIS is why we need to rely on His Spirit daily....because in ourselves we don't have the power. His sacrifice and His righteousness is what provides the means and access.
In Butner as I walked down a side street, about 8 or 9 people came out to the road to greet me and starting shouting in amazement "Jesus is walking down the street....It's Jesus!" Now let me make something abundantly clear here to everyone that may be reading......I do NOT think, nor do I profess to people, that I'm the real Jesus. I don't want people to think I've lost my bearings. I'm just obeying what God has told me to do. I am just a common man saved by an uncommon, mighty, amazing, merciful God!
At one point while in Butner I came to a park and sat down under a large shelter because it was very hot out. I sat there with my eyes closed and prayed. As I was praying, I could hear footsteps coming up behind me. A man came up and said "That's a mighty big message you are carrying there. What are you doing it for?" I told him that I'm a street minister and that I use this to get people's attention so that I can preach the gospel to them. Then he asked me if I needed any help. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said that if I needed him to drive me anywhere he would load up the cross on his truck and take me wherever I needed to go. I declined the offer but thanked him for his kindness. He then went back to his truck and got some bottled water for me. Afterwards I got back to business....not too far away at a laundromat parking lot. I could hear people giggling behind me, so I turned around to find four teenagers looking and talking amongst themselves. They asked if they could get a picture, and of course you know I never pass up a picture because that opens the door for God's Word to be preached. Cars then began to pull up left and right until I had a crowd of fourteen or fifteen around me. What do you think happened next? I talked to them about Jesus! What greater message is there but Jesus and what He's done for us. Afterwards many thanked me and hugged me, and some have even friend requested me on Facebook so they can follow the ministry.
Let me give you another statement from the mouth of Jesus....out of the book of Luke. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
We hear this and know this, but isn't it amazing when it actually happens for someone? I decided to go near I-85 exit where it is the busiest. I walked along the main road and into the Butner Food Lion shopping center parking lot. I walked by every shop with the cross in hand. As I got to the end of the strip mall a car pulls up beside me. The girl asked if I could pray for her. I said yes and told her to park and come over. The young lady comes up with her mother and her daughter and begins to tell me her story. She said that she didn't go to church, but today she had decided to go. The pastor had been talking about Jesus and she prayed that if Jesus was real, would He please reveal Himself to her.
This is a familiar position to take, because sometimes it's hard for us to believe in something that we can't see or feel. We ask God to reveal Himself....to just prove Himself to us. Imagine this girl's surprise when the very one she wanted to be revealed to her was standing right in front of her face in a tangible form just hours after she had asked.
I told her that today was her day and that God was going to transform her life. Right there in the parking lot this young girl and her mother made a confession of faith and vowed to start living their lives for the Lord. I explained some things in the gospel and then we prayed. I gave them my card and told them to stay in touch with so me that I could continue to help them and support them on their journey.
I always try and get people's contact information or give mine to them. I want to be able to follow up with them, help them out, disciple and counsel them in any way that's needed. I have made lots of new Facebook friends in the process, and I look forward to the many more I will make in the future.
Below are some additional photos that have been taken during the crosswalks.
This is the man in the last blog post that approached me in the KFC parking lot and prayed The Lords Prayer over me.
Through all of this I have thought about how awesome these days have been....how God has moved....how He is blessing and transforming lives. I can't help but get emotional about how good our Savior is and how when we were sinners Christ died for us. He showed His love for us even when we didn't give Him a second thought.
When you realize the magnitude of His love for you, you can't help but desire it for others.
Until next time....
Living Radically For Christ,
Dean
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